David Dowling - Tutors - Keystone Tutors

Experience

I began tutoring relatively early. Whilst at school I tutored conversational German to a parent at my school, who was a finance director for X-Changing, based in Frankfurt. Although not working towards a specific exam target we made great progress over the months I tutored him, and we became more natural in his speech.

Since moving to London my tutoring experience has fallen into four main areas.

Firstly, I have done a lot of work in English as a foreign language for a range of abilities, primarily with Russian students. At one end of the spectrum I have done very basic EFL to improve some of their conversational, reading and writing skills. I have also developed a way of teaching them new vocabulary and grammar whilst keeping them interested and engaged, which is often the difficulty with children of that age.

Secondly, and primarily, I work on preparing children for Common Entrance and school entrance examinations. Most of my work focuses on English and maths; however, I also regularly teach religious studies, history, Latin, geography as well as verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Moreover, I have worked towards a number schools, and have many successful applicants to Eton, Westminster, Charterhouse, Winchester, and Whitgift amongst others.

Thirdly, I prepare students for public examinations, ranging from GCSE English to A Level RS. Through a combination of revisiting the material and focusing on essay technique I am pleased to say they have all come on very well. The boy who took retook his AS doubled his mark to get an A. In addition to that I have helped prepare a boy for his GCSEs and managed to greatly improve his writing style.

Finally, I offer focused preparation for Oxbridge applications, particularly Theology.

Recent Keystone Work:

AS/A2 R.S. and Ethics: AS R.S. (Started: February 2011)

GCSE R.S.: GCSE R.S. (Started: March 2011)

13+ Geography, 13+ R.S.: CE general revision help, especially Geog, Hist and R.S. (Started: May 2011)

13+ English, 13+ Latin: Common Entrance English and Latin (Started: May 2011)

11+ English: 11+ English (Started: May 2011)

11+ English: year 5 English and Maths (Started: May 2011)

13+ Geography, 13+ R.S.: CE Geography and R.S. (Started: May 2011)

13+ English, 13+ History: CE English and History (Started: June 2011)

13+ R.S.: Essay writing for Common Entrance (Started: July 2011)

11+ English, Middle Years (Year 6 - 9) English: English and RS for bright chap who lacks concentration (Started: August 2011)

13+ English, 13+ Maths: Maths, Science and English for 13 year old new to British system (Started: August 2011)

AS/A2 R.S. and Ethics: A level R.S. (Started: November 2011)

11+ English, 11+ Maths : CLSB 11+ (English), CLSB 11+ (Maths), Latymer Upper 11+ (English), Latymer Upper 11+ (Maths) (Started: November 2011)

Oxbridge Preparation: Oxford interview preparation for Theology student (Started: November 2011)

11+ English, 11+ Maths : Westminster Pre-Test (Started: November 2011)

11+ English, 11+ Maths : Eton Pre-Test, Harrow Pre-Test, Westminster Pre-Test, Winchester Pre-Test (Started: November 2011)

13+ English, Middle Years (Year 6 - 9) English: ENGLISH study skills support (Started: December 2011)

11+ Maths : 11+ Maths (Started: January 2012)

13+ English: Common Entrance English (Started: January 2012)

8+, 7+: 7+ Exams (Started: January 2012)

8+: Maths and English 8 + (Started: January 2012)

11+ English: 11+ comprehension (Started: March 2012)

13+ English, 13+ Maths: Common Entrance all-round help (Started: March 2012)

AS/A2 R.S. and Ethics, Philosophy and Critical Thinking: A2 R.S (Philosophy and Ethics) (Started: March 2012)

13+ Geography, 13+ Science: Science and Geography 13+ (Started: March 2012)

13+ Geography: CE Geography (Started: April 2012)

Biography

I grew up in Bath and attended Kingswood School. I then went on to studying Theology at Oriel College, Oxford. As a result of achieving a double first I was awarded the Gibbs Prize.

Currently I am undertaking the LPC at College of Law, Moorgate, before beginning at Baker & McKenzie LLP.

Interests outside of the class room have been just important to me as those inside. At school I founded and was editor of my school’s newspaper. As a result of this I became a news-writer for The Oxford Student. My journalistic interests led me to become editor of Verdict, the Oxford Law Society’s termly magazine. I went on to become vice-President, responsible for the fundraising, recruitment and running of the society, which is the largest student-run society at Oxford University. This was part of the reason for my being taken on by Baker & McKenzie LLP. I could offer advice on work experience, and CV building.

However, not all my interests are purely legal. Charity has always been a passion of mine, and at Oxford I helped found and was vice-president of the Oxford Students' Oxfam Group. Debating too has been a constant interest of mine. At school I ran the largest Model United Nations conference in the country. Then at Oxford I reached the final of the Oxford Union inter-college debating competition, as well as being on of its Guest Liaison Officers.

In addition, I also pride myself as having a creative side as well. August 2011 a professional director and I produced a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which went on to have great reviews. We are looking at putting something on in London. In addition, I am involved in a number of screen writing projects.

Sport has also been very important to me, representing my school and college in rugby, X-country, squash, hockey and lacrosse. I am also proud to have completed the London Marathon for Sense. In addition I have achieved my Advanced Open Water Padi certificate. I can offer advice on how to balance work with extra-curricular activities, as well as putting them on a personal statement.

Personal Approach

I am relaxed and do not have a pre-determined plan. Instead I prefer to first gauge the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the lesson goals, of the individual student. I am happy to cater my teaching style to the needs and time availability of the student.

What I do when I am not tutoring

I enjoy variety of sports, at the moment primarily squash, running and cycling. Although I have a relatively demanding course I try to keep reading as much as possible, as well as going to the cinema, theatre and concerts.

Testimonials

20/04/2012: Our son has very much benefited from David's tutorials and always looks forward to his sessions too! (Mother of 13+ English student)

18/04/2012: David has been both incredibly sensitive and professional in his sessions with the boys. (Mother of GCSE and 13+ students)

24/01/2012: David has been wonderful and really helped Louis. (Mother of 11+ Student)

06/01/2012: David gave my son some great interview advice (Mother of Oxbridge interview candidate)

06/01/2012: "We are very happy with the work David is doing with our son"

24/11/2011: We are so lucky to have David he is so bright, competent and charming. I feel he is really helping my son (Mother of CE essay writing student)

22/11/2011: David was great. The session went very well and we'd like him to come back again (Mother of 11+ student)

22/11/2011: So far there is no doubt David will help our son integrate into the British educational system swiftly and efficiently (Parents of 13 year old Russian Native student in Maths, English and Science)

22/11/2011: David and our son managed to get on greatly from their first lesson. David seemed energetic, open-minded, intelligent, amiable and highly professional (Parents of 13 year old Russian student)

17/10/2011: “David is a very personable and impressive chap. Well organised and has a good manner with our son” (Mother of 10 year old English student with mild ADHD)

17/10/2011: “Wonderful – so bright and on the ball” (Mother of CE RS student)

17/10/2011: “We thoroughly enjoyed meeting and working with David. Thank you so much” (Mother of 13+ boy, CE prep)

17/10/2011: "The sessions with David are going well. They are covering a lot of material and my son is enjoying it - no mean feat for two subjects my son has never particularly enjoyed!" (Mother of CE prep boy)

17/10/2011: “Our sessions with David are going well. He is very pleasant and helpful” (Mother of year 5 boy, English & History)

17/10/2011: “David made a very good impression on everyone. Very good indeed! “ (Mother of CE prep boy)

25/05/2011: “David is always punctual and enthusiastic and my son feels that he is really benefiting from the extra help.” (Bronny, mother of GCSE student, Religious Studies)

Available on request

Passport: Keystone Tutors has a copy of David Dowling's passport and therefore can confirm that David Dowling is a UK / EU national or has the appropriate visa to be eligible to work in the UK.